Q&A – Page 95 – Church of the Eternal God

Does it matter what a political leader does in private as long as he does his "public" job effectively?

March 17, 2006

In recent years, we have seen a spate of allegations and revelations
about the behavior of certain leading political figures and other high
profile leaders, both in the UK and the USA, as well as in Western
Europe. While this is not a new phenomenon, public attitudes seem to
have changed to a more liberal and tolerant, if not accepting approach.
This is because of moral and ethical barriers being lowered as society
adopts a much more permissive attitude.

We may recall that in the
US presidential election in the late 1990’s, the public re-elected
their President in spite of his behavior. As long as the President gave
the American people a good standard of living it didn’t matter, as one
commentator put it, “what happened after dark.”

America’s first

Some state that the Church of God must not change any of the teachings established by Herbert W. Armstrong prior to his death in 1986. It is further stated that his doctrinal understanding has the weight of uncanonized Biblical truth! As a basis for this position, 1 Corinthians 11:1-2 is quoted. Our answer to this belief is set forth in the following response.

March 10, 2006

Before addressing 1 Corinthians 11:1-2, we need to give a brief
background on Herbert W. Armstrong and the Biblical teaching about
“apostles.” Herbert W. Armstrong (1892-1986) was led by God to
establish the Radio Church of God in the early 1930’s–later to be
renamed the Worldwide Church of God. This powerful work focused on the
Biblical guidelines that characterize the true followers of Jesus
Christ. Mr. Armstrong’s ministry was based on the understanding given
to him, and he often spoke of his personal growth in understanding. He
even mentioned in his old age that he had been learning more within the
last year than ever before–and as it occurred, this was the last year
of his life. He continually taught what the Bible records in 2 Peter

Please explain Christ’s saying, "Wherever the body is, there the eagles will be gathered together."

March 3, 2006January 10, 2021

Actually, Christ spoke at least twice about the body attracting eagles. His words are recorded in Matthew 24:28 and in Luke 17:37. In both cases, He spoke about His return to this earth. However, we might note a few distinctions, as we look at His statements more carefully.

Let us review His sayings one at a time.

In Matthew 24:26-28, Christ says: “‘Therefore if they say to you, “Look, He is in the desert!” do not go out; or “Look, He is in the inner rooms!” do not believe it. For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. For wherever the carcass is, there the eagles will be gathered together.'”

The Greek word for “carcass” is, “ptoma,” which “denotes, lit. a fall (akin to pipto, to fall); hence, that which is fallen, a corpse” (W. E. Vine, Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words).

In Update #230, you stated that only ordained men should preach in Church. Some men give sermonettes or even sermons in the Church who are not ordained to the ministry. Would you please explain this apparent inconsistency?

February 17, 2006

As a general rule of understanding, there is a difference between teaching and preaching in Church–preaching can be, and often is more of a corrective nature. Preaching, in that sense, should be left to the ministry, whereas non-ordained men can of course teach during Church services, if asked by the ministry to do so.

We should also note that the task of “preaching” includes proclaiming the gospel or good news to the world. The responsibility of preaching the gospel in all the world is reserved for the ministry or to be undertaken under the direction, guidance or supervision of the ministry. Matthew 28:19-20 points out that the Church is to first “go… and make disciples of all nations (verse 19).” This summarizes the Church’s responsibility of preaching the gospel in all the world (Romans 10:14-17), including the need of repentance, faith and baptism. Before a person is to be baptized, he or she must repent of his or her sins and accept, in faith, the Sacrifice of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of their sins (Acts 2:36-38). The Church’s ministry will baptize those who respond correctly to the preaching of the gospel (Mark 16:15-16; compare Luke 24:46-47). At the time of proper baptism and the laying on of hands by the ministry, the baptized person receives the gift of the Holy Spirit. It is then that the Church is to fulfill the second part of its commission, by “teaching them [the converted disciples] to observe all things that I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:20).” As distinguished from “preaching” or proclaiming the gospel to the world, “teaching” the truth in depth applies to activities within the Church. We must have God’s Holy Spirit within us to grow in the understanding of God’s word (John 16:12-13), and to obtain the strength and power or might to obey God as God’s Spirit continues to give understanding through His Word (Ephesians 1:13; 3:14-21; compare Romans 1:5; 16:26).

How important is it for a woman to study deeply into the "hidden secrets" of the Bible? After all, isn't a woman perceived to be quite inferior to a man in the Bible? Isn't a wife supposed to ask her husband about Biblical truth? A man can teach spiritual things to others, but a woman is not supposed to teach. So, what good does it do for her to obtain deep spiritual insight, just for herself–as she can't share it with anyone else?

February 10, 2006

It is true that the Bible teaches that the roles of men and women in
this day and age are different, whether it is in a marriage
relationship, or insofar as teaching or preaching in Church is
concerned. The Bible says that the husband is the “head” of his wife (1
Corinthians 11:3), and it is stated in God’s Word that a woman is to be
silent during Church services (1 Corinthians 14:34-35). But the
different roles and responsibilities assigned by God to men and women
IN THIS DAY AND AGE do not make women in any way inferior to men!
Please note that not only a woman, but also a man, unless he is
ordained, is not to preach to others in Church. This task is reserved
for the ministry (Romans 10:14-15)–but again, this does not make
ministers in any way “superior” to non-ordained members–men or women,

Would you please explain the two covenants, as mentioned in Galatians 4:21-31? Doesn't this passage teach that the Old Covenant with all of its Old Testament laws was abolished and is no longer in force and effect?

February 3, 2006

In order to fully comprehend what Paul is referring to with his
symbolism or allegory (compare Galatians 4:24), we must carefully
review the context. We should note, first of all, to whom Paul is
writing. The letter is addressed to “the Galatians” — non-Jewish
peoples who had come to the faith. These peoples never were part of the
Old Testament relationship between God and the ancient nation of
Israel. They were never part of the Old Covenant. IF Paul had in mind
to address the so-called “Old” and “New” Covenants in Galatians 4, then
his concluding statement in Galatians 5:1 would make little sense.
There, he says: “Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ
has made us free, and do not be entangled AGAIN with a yoke of bondage.”

Most

Why do so many children of Godly parents depart from God's Way of Life, even though Proverbs 22:6 says that they will not depart from it when they are old?

January 27, 2006

Proverbs 22:6 has caused many righteous parents, over the years, to
question their righteousness, or even their conversion, when their
children who had been trained in the way of righteousness and truth
later departed from it. They concluded that it must have been their
fault that their children did not stay loyal to God.

However, a
close look at Proverbs 22:6 might reveal that the righteous parents
caused unnecessary grief for themselves in this matter (Of course, we
must also realize that many parents who thought that they were
converted Christians might not have been converted at all, which might
be evidenced by the fact that they later left the Way of Truth, compare
1 John 2:19).

First of all, let us briefly rehearse a few
examples from the Biblical record of righteous parents and
less-than-righteous children. For instance, we know that David was a
righteous man who will be in the kingdom of God. But his son Absalom
rebelled against his father and God. David’s son Amnon violated his own
sister. And even David’s son Solomon departed from God’s way of
life–at least temporarily.

Samuel was a righteous prophet of God. But his sons did not walk in God’s ways (1 Samuel 8:3).

Abraham

What does Zion refer to?

January 20, 2006

The word Zion first appears in the Bible as the name of the ancient
Jebusite fortress called the city of Jebus which was situated on a hill
within the subsequent boundaries of Jerusalem. 2 Samuel 5:7 states:
“Nevertheless David took the stronghold of Zion (that is, the City of
David).” Note that from this original conquest, the area was enlarged:
“Then David dwelt in the stronghold, and called it the City of David.
And David built all around from the Millo and inward” (2 Samuel 5:9;
also, 1 Chronicles 11:4-9).

The hill upon which Solomon built the
temple was Mount Moriah — a different location than that of the
original City of David. David purchased from Ornan the Jebusite the location on which the
temple of God would later be built by Solomon

Does the Bible permit adultery, when the non-involved mate consents; or premarital sex when the involved parties subsequently marry?

January 13, 2006

The short answer is, No. We read in 1 Corinthians 6:18 that we are
to “flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the
body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body.”
Members of God’s Church are also told not to “make provisions for the
flesh, to fulfill its lusts (Romans 13:14).” Further, they are
commanded to “abstain from sexual immorality; that each of you should
know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, not in
passion of lust, like the Gentiles who do not know God” (1
Thessalonians 4:3-5).

Regarding this last passage, the Ryrie
Study Bible comments that this “means either mastery over one’s own
body, keeping it pure (1 Cor. 9:24-27),” or that it “refers to an
honorable marriage (vessel = wife, as 1 Pet. 3:7).” A third possibility

In the Bible, God gives specific instructions and commandments. But weren’t Paul’s writings driven by the prevailing culture at that time?

January 6, 2006

We must be very careful that we don’t fall into the trap of trying
to say that what Paul taught was just an instruction for his time, some
2,000 years ago–and that it is not necessarily binding for us today.
This wrong understanding was epitomized by an Anglican Bishop who, when
challenged on a particular issue a few years ago, wrote:

“My
disagreement stems partly from my understanding of the way in which I
read the Bible, praying that the Holy Spirit will enlighten my
understanding of what statements are unchangeable and what are
conditioned by social and cultural norms of the time in which God spoke
to those involved.”

He fell into the trap of “cherry picking”
those portions of Scripture that suited his particular stance and
ignoring those which he considered no longer applicable. This is a very
dangerous thing to do because God clearly states that “ALL
Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for
doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in
righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped
for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

The problem with the